Electric switch



Nov. 4, 1930. KELLNER 1,780,894

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 21, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 4, 1930. L.KELLNER ELECTRIC SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1926 1 w M 4 E?lllllmhu.

ulllbwrllllilll. lllllll-lll'lfirlll I fizz/@201. Low JZ ZZer. 6 M 4 MGig/"3 Nov. 4, 1930. L. KELLNER ELECTRIC SWITCH s Sheets-Sheet s FiledJan. 21, 1926 Patented Nov. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics LOUISKELLNER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JEFFERSON ELECTRIC COMPANY,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS nnncrnrc swrronApplication filed January 21, 1926.

The invention relates to improvements in manually operable electricswitches.

An important object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedswitch which is 5 simple and inexpensive in construction and which iscertain in operation.

Another object is to provide a novel switch having a plurality ofcontacts constituting a circuit with two switch breaks adapted to beclosed and opened simultaneously, having a fuse connected in the circuitbetween said breaks, and having simple means operable to close saidswitch and lock it in closed position.

A further object is to provide a novel looking means which willautomatically lock the switch in closed position after an actuation ofthe switch operating means, and which, un-

less the switch is completely closed, will permit the latter to openautomatically if the operating means is released.

Another object is to provide the switch with an enclosing casing havinga hinged section which can be opened to give access to the fuses and theinterior of the casing when the switch is open, and which is held inclosed position by the switch actuator when the switch is closed.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescrip tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings inwhich:-

Figure 1 is a front view of a switch embodying the features of myinvention, the front of the casing being removed to show the interior.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of Fig. 1, the switchbeing shown in its open position.

Fig. 3 is a side view on a reduced scale of the switch.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 1-& of Fig. l. I

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the switch in closedposition.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of the switch.

lVhile I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detailthe preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be un- Serial No.82,636.

derstood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to thespecific form disclosed, but aim to cover all modifications andalternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the switch is housed in abox-shaped casing preferably formed of sheet metal which comprises arear wall 6, side walls 7 and end walls 8, and which is closed at thefront by a wall 9 having a cover or section 10 hinged at 11.

A pair of parallel vertical standards 12 is mounted. in the casing.Preferably the rear edges of the standards 12 are bent outwardly to formflanges 13 which are secured to the rear wall 6 of the casing by meansof screws 14. The front edges of the standards 12 are bent in to formflanges 15. Other flanges 16 are secured to the sides of stand ards 12next to the flanges 15, and form therewith a pair of parallel spacedguideways 17.

Extending between and mounted in the upper and lower ends of theguideways 17 are two vertically spaced plates 18 and 19 respectively.These plates are adjustably secured in the guideways 17 by screws 20. Aplate or slide 21 is mounted in the guideways 17 for movement betweenthe plates 18 and 19. The plate 21 is normally held in its lowerposition against the plate 19 by a pair of coil springs 22. Thesesprings are connected at their opposite ends to lugs 23 6X- tendingrearwardly'from the plates 19 and 21.

.Mounted on the front of the fixed plates 18 and 19 are two sets ofknife blade contacts 24 and 25 respectively. These fixed contacts areinsulated from the plates 18 and 19 by suitable insulating blocks 26 and27 on which they are secured by screws 28 and 29, and are provided withbinding screws 30 and 31 for attaching electrical leads. Two sets ofclip contacts 32 and 33 are secured respectively by means of screws 34and 35 to the front of the movable slide 21 at opposite edges thereof,and are'insulated from the slide by suitable insulating blocks 36. Thecontacts 32 and 33 are provided with alined fuse clips 37 and 38 inwhich one or more fuses 39 are mounted. A guard 40 having openings 41permitting movement of the contacts 33 therethrough is mounted on theslide 21, and extends along the ends and lower edge thereof .to pneventany of the fuses 39'fro1n falling into the lower end of the switchcasing. The contacts 32 and 33 are arranged to be moved by the slide 21into and out of engagement with the contacts 24 and 25. These contactsthus constitute a fused circuit, and provide a double switch breakthere-in adapted to be opened and closed simultaneously, The circuit maycome prise any desired number of independent lines, and in the presentinstance'l have shown each set of contacts as consisting of threecontacts associated with the other contacts to form three lines, anynumber of which may be used.

The switch can be adapted for an unfused circuit (as shown in Fig. 6) byremoving the fuse clips 37 and 38, and substituting a conducting plate39 connecting the contacts 32 and 33. i

Means isprovided for'moving the slide 21 from its lower or open positioninto its upper or closed position and locking it in thelatter.

This meansicomp'rises a bifurcated lever 42 which is pivotally' mountedon a pin 43 between two lugs 44 extendingin from thefront wall 9 of thecasing, and the arms of which extend inwardlythrough openings '45 in theslide 21. The lever 42 extends through a slot 46 in the wall 9, and isformed at its outer-end with an arm 47 extendin clownwardly andsubstantially at right angles to the body of the lever. A hand lever oractuator 48 is loosely mounted on the pin 43, and preferably ischannel-shaped in part to embrace or fit over the arm 47. It will beevident that by moving the lever 48 downwardly the lever 42 will beactuated to raise the slide 21 and that the lever 48 is free to moveupwardly independently of the arm 47.

:Mounted for vertical movement on the inside of the front wall 9 is aslide 49 having a pair of closely spaced side walls 50. The slide isconnected through a slot 51 in the wall 9 with a vertical plate 52extending beyond the ends of said slot. The lower edge of the plate 52is positioned to be engaged by a heel 53 onjthe lever 48 when the latteris raised to move the slide 49 upwardly. The" slide 49 is resilientlyheld in its lowermost position by a coiled spring 54, the ends of whichfit over a pair of pins 55 on the front wall 9 and theupper end of theslide respectively. Each side 50 of the slide 49 iscut away at its lowerend to provide a cam slot 56 terminating in a locking notch 57.Extending up from the lower end of the slide. 49 and between, thesideseQ- thereof is apiate 58..

Twoupwardlyextending spaced arms 59 are formed on the lever 42 andextend along opposite sides of the cam slide 49. The arms 59 carry pins60 extending inwardly past the edges of the sides 50 and positioned tomove along the slots 56.

The'flever48 when lowered to close the switch extends across the hingedsection 10, and hence prevents access to the fuses or to the switchcontacts when the latter are closed.

Meansis provided for automatically trip ping the cam slide 49 to openthe switch in "the event of an overload or a low voltage.

This means comprises a trip lever 61 pivotally mountedat 62 on theinside of the front wall 9. One end of the lever '61 extends across thelowerend of the cam slide 49, and the other end thereof pro ects throughan 9 l 1 d opening 60 in one of-the s ne walis mounted on the side ofthe casing is a low voltage coil 64 having a movable plunger 65 which isadapted to drop onto the outer end ofthe lever 61 when the voltage fallsbelow a predetermined value. also mounted on the same side of theeasing, and has a movable plunger or core 6'? adapted to be movedupwardly against the rear end of a lever 68 when the load exceeds apredetermined value. The lever 68 is pivoted at 69, and extends besidethe plunger 65 and over the outer end of the lever 61. The coils 64 and66 may be connected in se ries across any two of the lines through theswitch.

The switch in its open position is shown in Figs. 1. and 2. To close theswitch, the lever 48 is thrown downwardly, thereby moving the pins 60alongthe cam edges of the slots 56 into the notches 57. Movement of thepins 60 along the slots 56 raises the slide 49 to permit the notches 57to snap into engage ment with the pins. The notches serve to lock theswitch in its closed position as shown in Fig. 5. If the lever 48 is notmoved a sufficient distance to bring the notches 57 and pins 60 intoengagement, and is then released, the springs 22 acting through theslide 21 will reopen the switch. To open the switch after it islockerhthe lever 48 is raised, thereby bringing the heel 53 against theplate 52to raise the slide '49. The notches are consequently separatedfrom the pins 60, and the latter are moved rearwardly along the slots 56by the coil springs 22. If the load becomes excessive or if the voltagedrops too low, the slide 49 will be automatically raised through thelever 61 to open the switch,

I claim as my invention:

1. A swing having, in combination, a plura'lity offixed contacts, membermovable between said contacts, a plurality of movable contacts on saidmember adapted-to be moved simultaneously into and out of engageinentwith said fixed cont-acts, said fixed and movable contacts constitutinga circuit with two switch breaks, a fuse connected in An overload coil'66 is :msonea said circuit between said breaks, spring means tendingcontinuously to move said member to open said contacts, means foractuating said member to close said contacts, and spring pressed meansadapted to be cammed by said actuating means into locking engagementwith said actuating means when the switch is closed, said actuatingmeans being operable to disengage said locking means.

2. A switch having, in combination, a plurality of movable and fixedcontacts, an actuator for moving said movable contacts into engagementwith said fixed contacts, spring means tending to move said movablecontacts out of engagement with said fixed contacts, a cam slide havinga slot terminating in a locking notch, means on said actuator positionedwhen said contacts are open to move along said slot and into said notch,and spring means tending to press said slide against said last mentionedmeans to hold the latter in locked position.

3. A switch having, in combination, a casing, a plurality of fixedcontacts in said casing, a movable member, a plurality of movablecontacts on said member adapted to be moved into and out of engagementwith said fixed contacts, said fixed and movable contacts constituting acircuit with a double switch break, a fuse connected in said circuitbetween said breaks, a lever mounted on said casing and engaging saidmember to close said contacts, spring means tending to move said memberin a direction to open said contacts, a cam slide mounted in said casingand having a locking notch, said cam slide having a cam surface formedthereon and adapted to direct said lever into said notch when said leveris moved to close said contacts, and spring means tending to force saidcam slide against said lever.

4. A switch having, in combination, a plurality of fixed and movablecontacts, means for closing said contacts, spring means tending to opensaid contacts, a locking member having a locking notch and a camsurface, spring means tending to hold said locking member against saidfirst mentioned means, said first mentioned means upon being actuatedbeing movable along said cam surface to actuate said locking member topermit engagement with said notch, and being operable to release saidlocking member and permit said switch to open, and means automaticallyoperable to release said locking member.

5. A switch having, in combination, a casing having a hinged section, asupport in said casing, a plurality of contacts on said support, amovable member, a plurality of contacts on said movable member, meansfor moving said member including an actuator adapted to lie across saidhinged section in one position of said member, and means for lockingsaid member in said position, said actuator being adapted vupon being.moved 1 away from -;sai d;section; to. release said lockg;me s. V

6. Aswitfch having,in combination, avcasting ,havin g.=.a hingedsection, movable and fixed-contacts supported in said casing,-means for,closing and opening said contacts, said .means including lever overlyingsaid hinged ,section when said contacts-are closed, and shaving. altreemovement away from said secttlOll, and-.means for lockingsaid firstmentioned meansin position-when said contacts are closed, said'lastmentioned meansvbeing positionedto be engaged by said lever toreleasesaid first mentioned means when said lever is moved from said 7section.

.7. A switchhaving, in combination, a plurality of. fixed contacts, a-movable member .-betweensai d cont-acts,.agplurality of movablecontacts on said member adaptedto-be moved simultaneously into and outof engagement with saidfixed contacts, said fixed and ,saidniovablecontacts. constituting a circuit with two switch breaks, a fuseconnected-insaid circuit between said breaks, spring means tending tomove said .memberto open said contacts,.means for; actuating saidmemberto closesaid contacts, and means for locking said memberinposition whensaid contacts are closed,:saidactuating means being topverableindependentlyof saidmemberflco release said last mentioned means to,permit saidspring-means vto open said switch.

8. switch having, in combination, a plurality of movable and fixedcontacts, anactuator .for ,moving said. movable contacts into engagementwith said fixed contacts, spring means tending to move said movablecontacts out of engagement with said fixed contacts,

a locking member having a notch adapted to engage said actuator to lockthe latter in position when said contacts are closed, and means on saidlocking member coacting with said actuator to move said member to directsaid actuator into engagement with said notch, said member beingoperable to disengage said actuator and said notch.

9. A switch having, in combination, a casing having a hinged section,two relatively movable contacts in said casing, means for moving saidcontacts into engagement, said means having an arm adapted whenpositioned to close said contacts to lie across said hinged section,means for locking said first mentioned means in said position, and anactuator for said arm movable independently thereof away from saidsection to release said locking means.

10. A switch having, in combination, a movable contact, a fixed contact,an actuator for moving said contacts into engagement, spring meanstending to move said contacts out of engagement, a cam slide having aslot terminating in a locking notch, means on said actuator positionedwhen said contacts are closed to move along said slot into said notch,and spring means for-pressing said slide against said last mentionedmeans to hold said actuator in locked position.

11. A switch having, in combination, a casinghaving a Wall, tworelatively movable contacts in said casing, an actuator for closing saidcontacts, said actuator extending outwardly through said Wall, a lockingmember slidably mounted in said Wall and projecting from both sidesthereof, said member and said actuator having means movable intointerlocking engagement at the inside of said Wall when said actuator ismoved to bring said contacts into engagement, spring means for urgingsaid member into engagement with said actuator, the portion of saidmember external of said Wall being operable tomove said member out oflocking engagement with said actuator.

: 12. A switchv having, in combination, a fixed contact, a movablesupport, a contact on said support movable into and out of engagementWith said fixed contact, a fixed support, an actuating lever pivotallymounted on said fixed support and being operatively related to saidmovable support for moving said contacts into engagement, yielding meansfor resisting movement of said contacts into engagement, a lockingmember slidably mounted on said fixed support, and having a lookingrecess,anarm on said lever movable into said recess upon movement ofsaid contacts into engagement, and spring means for urging said lockingmember against said arm.

In testimony'whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

7, LOUIS KELLNER.

